Button clasp



Jan. 5, 1932. M. H. EGNAL BUTTON CLASP Filed May 10, 1950 778 Fly. /0

R 0 m EE MH V.. In k M qnal : ATTO EY Patented Jan. 5 1932 Eran srarss MICHAEL H. EGNAL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA I BUTTON Application filed May 10,

My invention relates to a fastener or clasp, and relates more particularly to a clasp for holding a button on wearing apparel.

Frequently when dressed and preparing to leave ones dwelling a button is found to be removed from its place on the apparel, or at other times, a button may be accidently torn from its support, and thereby inconvenience and a source of annoyance is encountered until such button is replaced. At such time, some means requiring a few seconds to replace a similar button back in the position it should be in, and also to safely secure the button back in position until the button may be sewed permanently in place, is of great convenience; and, therefore, is desired.

My invention contemplates a device that is easilyand quickly attached to hold a button in place, that is not conspicuous in structure, that is cheap to construct and that is sturdy in construction.

However, this invention is such that the button clasp maybe left in place permanently and the holder will always retain the button in position, as is desired if fraternity or lodge pins are to be held in position.

With these ends in view, my invention embodies an attaching device, having legs that form a shank which pierces a supporting cloth; and a two piece clasp, having one member or element. adapted to slide over the shank, and a second member or element that one pushes into the first member which is then held by the first member and is caused to bite down on the shank. V

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the following details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of my invention holding an ordinary button in place; 1

. Figure 2 is a front View of an ordinary butones? 1930. Serial No. 451,293.

ton showing the attaching device piercing therethru; I e

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the attaching device; 7

Figure l is a sectional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the female element of the clasp;

Figure 6 is a front view of the female element of the clasp;

Figure 7 is a rear viewof the female element of the clasp; i

Figure 8 is a side view of the male element of the clasp; w

Figure 9 is a front view of the male element of the clasp; I l M Figure 10 is a rear view of the male element of the clasp; i

Figure 11 is a modification of the clasp;

Figure 12 is afront View ofthe modified clasp.

Referring to the drawingsFigure 1 shows a button A, a piece of cloth B to whichthe button is supported, an attaching device C piercing the button and cloth, and; a clasp consisting of a female element VD and a male element -E- grasping the attaching device on the side of the cloth opposite to the button.

The button A- is of the customary construction having two or four holes 20 inits center, whereby'any means may be employed to fasten the button in place. I i

Piercing the holes 20 of the button and the ordinary cloth B is an elongated flexible attaching device, generally designated as C. The attaching device is bent at the center so that the legs thereof are folded. backupon one another, to be parallel and adjacent; thus, forming a substantiallypointed shank, sincejone leg 22 is circular in cross sectional area with serrations 24011 its uppermost surface; and'the other leg of the attaching device is formed of concave and convex surfaces, 26 and 28 respectively, with the convex surface having serrations thereon. The purpose of the circular and concaveconvex legs is that the circular leg will lie closely and snugly within the concave-convex leg to form substantially a round pointed shank, for penetration of the cloth; and for receiving and holding a fastening element. 7 The clasp, to hold the legs or shank of the attaching device together and for holding the attaching device from being pulled out, consists of a metal circular female element D- and a metal circular male element E interfitting with the female element D.

Although, the female member is shown as being placed adjacent the cloth'B--', with the male element -E- away from the cloth, it is obvious that the male member may be placed adjacent the cloth by having an opene ing in the flat circular wall 40, the said flat wall 40 being placed adjacent the cloth and the flexing jaws 42 and 44 being spaced from the cloth. In such construction, the female element is then spaced from the cloth.

T he metal circular female element consists of a flat wall or head 32, having an opening 34 therein of such size as to easily slide over the legs of the attaching device, and the outer end consisting of a circular flexing member 36 curvedly bent so as to form a neck between the head 32 and the flexing member 36. The flexing member 36 is to lock or bite the jaw carrying memberabout the shank to be gripped. The section 38, intermediate the wall 32 and the flexing member 36, is of a greater diameter than the flexing member 36 to permit grasping the element D for unfastening the clasp. A short slot 39 permits the expansion of the flexing member 36.

The metal circular male element 'E- has a flat circular wall 40, and curvedly bent therefrom are flexing jaws 42 and 44, the curved graduating section 45 connecting the walls and jaws. An opening 46 of a diameter to tightly fit over the ends of the attaching device is formed in the jaws. A slit 48 separates the jaws 42 and 44, so that when the ends of the jaws are placed within the flexing member 35 the jaws will tightly grasp the depressions of the corrugations and 30.

The modified clasp 49 (Figure 11) has two resilient flexing jaws 50 and 52. By having the clasp, generally designated as 49, formed of resilient material a greater effort will be required to move the same from its normal posit on when placed on a clrcular serrated attaching device or shank 58, for there will be created an intensive binding action by the jaws on the shank. The upturned. ends 54 removal of the clasp from the shank.

and56 of the jaws, are to permit the easy The operation of the device is as follows zat the position on the cloth where the button is to be fastened the attaching device is passed thru the opening of the button and the cloth.

a the shank.

The inherent tendency of the jaws 50 and 52 (Figure 11) of clasp 49 to maintain their initial unfiexed position, thereby tend to hold the clasp firmly about the serrated circular attaching device 58, thus, no other locking means is required. The clasp 49 may be slid on or oil as desired and will always retain a rigid hold on the shank when in place.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is iiitended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim V 1. A clasp, comprising an attaching device and a female element, having a flexing member, provided with a slit to permit expansion, a male element to co-act with the female element, the said male element having flexing jaws, the said jaws adapted to be gripped by the flexing member to interlock the jaws with said attaching device.

2. In a button clasp, a combination of an attaching device passing thru a button and cloth, a clasp composed of a male element and a separable female element, said male element having movable locking jaw members, the jaw members to be locked about the attaching device, when the female element grasps the male element and both male and female elements adapted to slide over the attaching device when about to be attached and when separated from one another.

3. In a button clasp, a combination of an attaching device holding a button and passing thru a cloth, serrations on the attaching device, a clasp composed of a male element and a separable female element, said male element having a plurality of flexing jaws gripping the serrations on the attaching device, when the female element grasps the male element and both male and female elements adapted to slid-e over the attaching device when about to be attached and when separated from one another.

4. A clasp comprising a female element having a flexing member, a separable male element having a plurality of flexing jaws, an attaching device passing thru the female element and gripped by the flexing jaws of the male element, the flexing member to grip the outside of the flexing jaws and both male and female elements adapted to slide over the attaching device when about to be attached and when separated from one another.

5. A removable button clasp, comprising an attaching device, having legs parallel and adjacent one another, one leg of circular cross sectional area having serrations on the upper surface, the other leg of a concave and convex cross-sectional area, said concave surface surrounding a portion of the circular leg to fit snugly, serrations on the said convex surface, a clasp embracing the attaching device composed of a female element and a male element.

6. In combination, a clasp and attaching device, said attaching device having one circular leg and a second leg of concavo-convex cross-sectional area, said concavo-convex leg parallel to and snugly interfitting with the circular leg.

7. A clasp, comprising a female element having a flexing member provided with a slit, a male element having an opening to receive a shank to be held and provided with flexing jaws, said male element being receivable within said flexing member for intel-locking the jaws with said shank, and said shanks having provided thereon serrations.

8. In a button clasp, a combination of an attaching device passing thru a button and cloth, detachable clasp means having a female element, and a male element adapted for attachment and detachment with said female element, said male element being receivable within said female element for interlocking said attaching device, said attaching device having serrations thereon.

9. A clasp comprising a female element having a flexing member, a male element adapted for attachment and detachment with said female element having an opening to receive a shank to be held and provided with flexing jaws, said flexing member adapted for interlocking the jaws with said shank and gripping the outside of the jaws, and serrations provided upon said shank to be engaged by said jaws.

10. Fastening means comprising an attaching device having legs adapted to be extended thru a button element to be fastened, said legs being shaped to interfit to provide a shank adapted to penetrate a fabric, and said legs .being serratedon their outer surface for receiving and holding a clasp said clasp adapted to slide over the attaching device when in unlocked position.

11. A fastener comprising a piercing serrated shank adapted to penetrate the material to which the fastener is to be attached, and an attaching or clasp member co-operating with said serrated shank, said clasp mem her having flexing jaws for interlocking the jaws with said shank said clasp adapted to 

